him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so." Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, "Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah." Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, "Thus saith Jehovah, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until they be consumed."" And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, "Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper; for Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king."

And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, "Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak thou good." And Micaiah said, "As Jehovah liveth, what Jehovah saith unto me, that will I speak." And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him,

66

Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear?" And he answered him, "Go up and prosper; and Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king." And the king said unto him, "How many times shall I adjure thee that thou speak unto me nothing but the truth in the name of Jehovah?" And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Jehovah said, 'These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace." And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?" And Micaiah said, "Therefore hear thou the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah

sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And Jehovah said, 'Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said on this manner; and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, 'I will entice him.' And Jehovah said unto him, 'Wherewith?' And he said, 'I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, ‘Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth and do so.' Now therefore, behold, Jehovah hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets; and Jehovah hath spoken evil concerning thee."

Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way went the Spirit of Jehovah from me to speak unto thee?" And Micaiah said, "Behold, thou shalt see on that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself." And the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; and say, 'Thus saith the king, "Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.""" And Micaiah said, "If thou return at all in peace, Jehovah hath not spoken by me." And he said, "Hear, ye peoples, all of you."

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put thou on thy robes." And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle. Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty and two captains of his chariots, saying, "Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel."

And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, "Surely it is the king of Israel," and they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, "Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded." And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even; and the blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot. And there went a cry throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, “Every man to his city, and every man to his country."

So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.

LXXXIV

THE TRANSLATION OF ELIJAH

(II Kings ii: 1-25)

And it came to pass, when Jehovah would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, “Tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me as far as Beth-el." And Elisha said, "As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." So they went down to Beth-el. And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master

66

from thy head today?" And he said, "Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace." And Elijah said unto him, "Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me to Jericho." And he said, "As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said unto him, “Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head today?" And he answered, "Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace." And Elijah said unto him, "Tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me to the Jordan." And he said, "As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." And they two went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood over against them afar off: and they two stood by the Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken from thee." And Elisha said, "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me." And he said, "Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.' And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof!"

And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back,

and stood by the bank of the Jordan. And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, "Where is Jehovah, the God of Elijah?” and when he also had smitten the waters, they were divided hither and thither; and Elisha went over.

And when the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho over against him saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha." And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

And they said unto him, "Behold now, there are with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master, lest the Spirit of Jehovah hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley." And he said, "Ye shall not send." And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, 66 Send." They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. And they came back to him, while he tarried at Jericho; and he said unto them, “Did I not say unto you, 'Go not?'”

And the men of the city said unto Elisha, "Behold, we pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is bad, and the land miscarrieth." And he said, "Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein." And they brought it to him. And he went forth unto the spring of the waters and cast salt therein, and said, "Thus saith Jehovah, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or miscarrying."" So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spake.

And he went up from thence unto Beth-el; and as he was going up by the way, there came forth young lads out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, "Go up, thou baldhead; go up, thou baldhead." And he